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without reference to the local authority by the use of ingenuity, while
forethought could often prevent problems arising.
A partitioned bedroom or a studio couch in a living room are
obvious ways of overcoming the problem of finding separate sleeping
accommodation for mixed families. Undoubtedly some inconvenience
would result but the suffering of minor inconveniences is surely not
too much to expect of fit young people when the comfort and happiness
of a grandparent is at stake. A few old persons prefer a solitary
life but the majority like to have their families around them and
vacancies in Homes should be left free for those old persons who
have no family, whose families are invalids, or who need more supervision
than it is possible to arrange in a normal household.
Each year I have added to my records the cases of old persons
whose offspring or other young relatives have given them notice to
quit. These old persons are almost invariably victims of their own
kindness. They have allowed offspring to remain in the parental home
upon marriage; in some instances rent free. The young couple have
had children and over a period of years the older persons have
gradually surrendered one or more additional rooms to provide
bedrooms for the growing grandchildren. In some cases the younger
couple have both gone to business and the children have been
reared by the grandparents who may also have done all cleaning
and cooking. Then one day the owner of the premises has made known
his desire to sell and has offered the older persons as protected
tenants an opportunity to buy at a price well below the market value.
The older persons having insufficient capital and being unable to
obtain a mortgage have transferred the opportunity to their offspring.
Thus the offspring have then become the owners and the older persons
have become unprotected tenants, a point they do not always
realise until they are caught in the trap. It would be reasonable to
expect the young couple to allow the older persons to remain with
the family to the end; and even to allow them to remain rent free as
their share in the advantageous purchase price but I must report that
in 1963 several persons rewarded their parents by giving them notice
to quit and by making their lives miserable in the interim period. 1
interviewed three couples and at least ten widows or widowers who
broke down when telling me about this shameful treatment. Some
were re-housed in Ilford Borough Council flatlets, some entered Part
3 accommodation, and others were able to make alternative private
arrangements but in the meantime they trudged about the town making
fruitless enquiries and becoming physically and mentally exhausted.
The hardest thing for them to bear was the resultant severing of
friendly relationships with their family.